Risk Factors for Motorcycle-related Severe Injuries in a Medium-sized City in China

Xiong Lili; Zhu Yao; Li Liping; Xiong Lili; Zhu Yao; Li Liping

doi:10.3934/publichealth.2016.4.907

AIMS Public Health

2016, Volume 3, Issue 4: 907-922. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2016.4.907

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Research article

Risk Factors for Motorcycle-related Severe Injuries in a Medium-sized City in China

1.
Hunan Province Maternal and Children Health Care Hospital, 53 Xiang Chun Road, Changsha, Hunan Province, China 410000
2.
Injury Prevention Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, 22 Xin Ling Road Shantou, Guangdong Province, China 515041

Received: 01 April 2016 Accepted: 04 November 2016 Published: 08 November 2016

Background: Motorcycle vehicles are frequent in China, especially in the small and medium sized cities. Road traffic collisions involving motorcycles often result in severe injuries. We aimed to identify risk factors for severe injuries in inpatients sustaining motorcycle collisions. Methods: Patients with road traffic injuries involving motorcycles who presented to the neurosurgery and orthopedic departments of three major comprehensive hospitals in Shantou city were reviewed from October 2012 to June 2013. Data from 349 patients was investigated. Crash and injury characteristics were documented by interviewing patients, their family members, and their doctors. Binary logistic regression was used to determine risk factors for severe injuries. Results: There were 253 males (72.49%) and 96 females (27.51%), with a male to female ratio of 2.64:1. The mean age was 38.21 ± 17.32 years. One-hundred and fifty patients were in the severe injury group with a mean injury severity score (ISS) of 15.34 ± 9.13. The simple and multiple logistic model showed that males, lack of safeguards, morning and night hours, non-urban areas, collision of a motorcycle with a cycle, ambulance transportation to hospital, admission to a neurosurgery department, lack of traffic control, unobstructed traffic, and poor visibility were all the risk factors. Conclusions: This research highlights some problems: less helmet wearing in motorcyclists and cyclists, rural injuries being more serious than urban ones, and head injuries being the main diagnosis in severe injuries. The result of this research is predictable. If the safety equipment is required to be used, such as helmets, and the traffic environment is improved, such as traffic flow, medical resources to injuries and deaths is seasonable, then traffic safety will be improved and accidents will be reduced.
- motorcycles; injuries; risk factors
Citation: Xiong Lili, Zhu Yao, Li Liping. Risk Factors for Motorcycle-related Severe Injuries in a Medium-sized City in China[J]. AIMS Public Health, 2016, 3(4): 907-922. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2016.4.907

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Abstract

Background: Motorcycle vehicles are frequent in China, especially in the small and medium sized cities. Road traffic collisions involving motorcycles often result in severe injuries. We aimed to identify risk factors for severe injuries in inpatients sustaining motorcycle collisions. Methods: Patients with road traffic injuries involving motorcycles who presented to the neurosurgery and orthopedic departments of three major comprehensive hospitals in Shantou city were reviewed from October 2012 to June 2013. Data from 349 patients was investigated. Crash and injury characteristics were documented by interviewing patients, their family members, and their doctors. Binary logistic regression was used to determine risk factors for severe injuries. Results: There were 253 males (72.49%) and 96 females (27.51%), with a male to female ratio of 2.64:1. The mean age was 38.21 ± 17.32 years. One-hundred and fifty patients were in the severe injury group with a mean injury severity score (ISS) of 15.34 ± 9.13. The simple and multiple logistic model showed that males, lack of safeguards, morning and night hours, non-urban areas, collision of a motorcycle with a cycle, ambulance transportation to hospital, admission to a neurosurgery department, lack of traffic control, unobstructed traffic, and poor visibility were all the risk factors. Conclusions: This research highlights some problems: less helmet wearing in motorcyclists and cyclists, rural injuries being more serious than urban ones, and head injuries being the main diagnosis in severe injuries. The result of this research is predictable. If the safety equipment is required to be used, such as helmets, and the traffic environment is improved, such as traffic flow, medical resources to injuries and deaths is seasonable, then traffic safety will be improved and accidents will be reduced.

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